Varanasi News: In a major development in the ongoing mosque-mazar dispute at Uday Pratap College in Varanasi, the police have taken swift action, arresting four individuals, including Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari, a key figure in the Gyanvapi case. The arrests follow complaints filed by the principal of Uday Pratap College regarding the deteriorating communal harmony after recent incidents.

The unrest began when a large number of people gathered at the mosque-mazar in the college complex following the 2018 claim by the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board over the land. On Friday, December 6, the mosque hosted a prayer service attended by hundreds of members of the Muslim community, which was followed by a protest by college students and an attempt to recite Hanuman Chalisa as a counter.

The situation escalated when students and external elements expressed strong objections, creating a tense environment in the area. The Waqf Board later retreated, clarifying that the land dispute had been resolved in January 2021, and that the mosque was not Waqf property. Despite this clarification, protests continued, with students clashing with the police. On Friday, December 6, clashes broke out, and the police had to intervene to restore order.

Police Action and Arrests

Following the disturbances, Shivpur Police acted on a complaint by the college principal, Professor Dr. Dharmendra Kumar Singh, and arrested Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari, a resident of Lohata, along with Afroz Khan, Adil Khan, and Firoz Khan. These individuals were charged for inciting communal tension and creating disturbances. Mukhtar Ahmed is also a party to the Gyanvapi case, and his involvement has raised concerns.

The ACP of Cantt, Vidush Saxena, confirmed the arrests, stating that the police were maintaining strict vigilance to ensure peace and harmony. He also warned that strict action would be taken against anyone attempting to disrupt the peace or making irresponsible statements.

No Friday Prayers at Uday Pratap College

In an unexpected turn of events, no one showed up for the Friday prayers at the Uday Pratap College mosque on December 6. The campus, which typically sees a larger turnout for Friday prayers, remained quiet. In contrast, during the previous Friday, the mosque had witnessed hundreds of people offering prayers, but this time, the situation was entirely different, signaling the growing discontent among students regarding the ongoing Waqf property dispute.

Local sources mentioned that historically, the mosque in the college had a significant number of visitors on Fridays, but the complete absence of attendees on December 6 was unprecedented, indicating the mounting tension and opposition to the religious claim.

Ongoing Tensions and Police Monitoring

To maintain peace, both the college management and local police have been actively working to engage the community in dialogue. Special attention was given to the Friday prayers to prevent further escalation. Despite the college's attempts to diffuse the situation, students have expressed deep dissatisfaction, especially concerning the lack of official documentation for the mosque's status as a religious site.

The police have assured that any efforts to disturb the peace will be met with strict legal action. As of now, the situation remains under control, but the authorities are continuing to monitor developments closely.

The clash over the mosque-mazar land claim at Uday Pratap College continues to be a flashpoint, with the issue being carefully watched by both local and state authorities.